When I had put it on, I checked with the mirror and, crutches or no crutches, I was mighty proud of the way I looked. Right then I would have given almost anything if I had been able to send a picture to my mother and father. Only I had never known any parents; I didn’t even know if they were living, and I presumed not. I guess what I wanted was someone to be proud of me. As soon as I could, I would write to Judge Feinberg and tell him about the trip.
We were scheduled to take off at eight in the evening; the crew was to be on board at least two hours early so that all gear could be stowed and so that those of us who were unfamiliar with the ship could orient ourselves a little before our actual flight duties would begin. I had a whole carton of shorthand notebooks which I had submitted o
